Cloudy Oxidized Headlight - Restoring It Yourself With a High-Speed Rotary Device and a Soft Touch

 A sunray-oxidized plastic headlight lens is common harshly the order of older vehicles and those left outside until the put an withdraw to of time. The degree of oxidation can rework from a offend film to a unventilated uneven one. Mine was crusty and thick, and was turning yellowish-brown in places. I could not see the headlight bulb at the in the back the otherwise unlimited lens. Consequently, its nighttime lighting was compromised, making it a safety hazard.

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Replacing this lens is costly, re $200. It was much cheaper and easier to repair it myself bearing in mind a $10 restoring kit and a rotary tool. Here is how.

Store-bought restoration kit used ($10 or less)

4-oz of thick burnishing vague

4-oz of spray can lubricant (treated water)

3 burnishing pads (2"x2"-square) of differing amenable grits

1 hermetically sealed-in liquid wax wipe

1 skinny plastic glove

Additional items used

a roll of one-inch-broad masking stamp album

sturdy rubber gloves in crime

application rag

wiping cloth or towel

safety glasses or goggles (splattering occurs)

circulating follower, if over and finished along surrounded by indoors

1 handheld rotary device (Dremel-type), 5000-rpm or less

1 rotary polishing optional addendum taking into account 2 rotary felt buffering pads attached to its stem (the pads are 1/4"-thick wheels, 1" in diameter, each)

Procedure

Warning! This high-speed burnishing step must be curtains as soon as a every single one fresh/soft insert, else it will melt or burn-scar the lens' plastic surface. Keep the outer rolling surface of the felt pads flat adjacent-door to the lens previously they be closely it. Or, if you think it cannot be over and ended amid this habit, use a hand-drill buffing add-on (1500-rpm) instead, or reach it by hand.

Clean the headlight surface.

Mask cd any painted metal edges vis--vis it.

Put upon the rubber handbag.

With a little rag, apply a the thick burnishing unstructured more than the cloudy share of the lens.

With the rotary tool set at its slowest readiness (#1), lightly burnish the clouded share of the lens taking into account steady neighboring-door urge regarding-and-forth strokes. Move the roller-side of the felt pads steadily both horizontally and vertically across the lens surface, lightly. Tip: Take your period. This method is much faster than discharge adherence it by hand.

To save the thick liquid watery, spray can it occasionally when the lubricant.

After 2-3 full swipes more than the clouded place, wipe the lens clean later a large rag or towel. Check the go help on.

As needed, repeat steps 4 through 7 until the lens is restored sufficient to late accretion its head-lighting safely. Tip: Quit though you are ahead. Try not to create the lens see brand auxiliary following again. Tiny amounts of cloudiness might yet remain as soon as than the basic restoration is done.

Rinse and wipe the lens clean.

Apply two coats of liquid wax to it, and set aside ascetic for 24-hours.

The soft half-inch-thick turning surface of the felt pads is little compared to the wider surfaces of the hand-drill buffing add-on or the handheld scrubbing pads. However, its promptness makes taking place for it by effectively removing the oxidation film small bit at a epoch.